Baby pacifiers, also called soothers or dummies, have several benefits that extend beyond pacification of a crying infant. Perhaps that’s why several pediatric experts recommend it. But what makes a good pacifier? How do you pick the right type of pacifier for your baby? In this article, MomJunction addresses these questions and acquaints you with 15 best baby pacifiers you might want to choose from for your little one.

When To Give A Baby A Pacifier?

The American Academy of Paediatrics recommends offering a pacifier to babies when they are at least one-month old. That is the age when breastfeeding gets established and the baby will not confuse a pacifier to a breast nipple and vice-versa (1).

What Are The Types Of Pacifier?

The following are the common types of pacifiers available in the market:

One-piece pacifiers: These pacifiers are molded from a single piece of plastic, and do not have multiple parts attached to one another. This pacifier minimizes the risk of choking and is most recommended by pediatric experts.

Three-piece pacifier: These pacifiers have three components viz. the nipple, mouth guard, and ring. These are attached tightly to complete the pacifier.

Glow-in-dark pacifier: It has a glowing mouth guard that is easy to spot in the dark. These pacifiers are best for night time usage.

Feeder pacifier: The nipple of the pacifier is hollow and perforated. You can place fruit or a thick puree in the hollow, for the baby to eat slowly. These pacifiers are ideal for babies older than 12 months.

Fancy pacifier, pacifier with a toy: These pacifiers may have decorative designs on them or come attached with a small toy to keep the baby engrossed. If you are looking for unique pacifier options, consider these.

How To Choose The Best Pacifier?

Remember the following points when buying a pacifier for your infant or toddler:

Select pacifiers with minimal components: Choose a pacifier with few parts or joints since they are easy to clean and also reduce the risk of choking. Overly complicated pacifiers may be fragile and have crevices, where saliva is deposited and bacteria thrive.

Stay away from flavored ones: Avoid flavored pacifiers that can contain artificial, chemical-based flavoring agents and fragrances that can be harmful to the baby.

Select one appropriate for the baby’s age: Pacifiers come in different sizes, designed for babies of different age-groups. Picking the right-sized pacifier will minimize the risk of choking while serving the intended purpose.

7. Ashtonbee Baby Fruit Feeder Pacifier

The nipple has a lid, where you can put foods like fruits and purees. A sieve in the nipple allows small bits of food to trickle into the baby’s mouth, which makes introducing solid food easier and safer.

The nipple is soft and squishy, which means it also relieves teething irritation.

A stain-resistant build material, which means it will not catch the color of the food you feed.

Seven Tips On Baby Pacifier Usage

A pacifier is a tool, not a toy: Most pacifiers are designed to withstand rough handling but the primary purpose of a pacifier is to soothe and calm the infant, not to aggravate him. Avoid using it as a toy to prevent causing irreversible damage and affecting its use as a soother.

Check periodically for damage: Check for signs of damage or corrosion on the pacifier, as a broken pacifier could become a safety hazard. Gently tug the nipple to see if it is broken or chipped. In case of two-piece pacifiers, check for loose attachments and the presence of mold at the joints and inside the crevices.

Do not dip the pacifier in sugar syrup or honey: The American Dental Association states that dipping a pacifier in sugar syrup or honey can negatively affect teeth and gum development of infants (2). Giving honey to a baby less than 12 months old can also lead to a life-threatening ailment called infant botulism (3).

Note the expiry date: Pacifiers come with an expiry date, and it is essential to take a note of it. Check for the expiry date when purchasing pacifier and ensure that your baby does not use it beyond the expiry date.

Replace every two months: Pacifiers should be replaced every two months (4), before they are damaged and become unhygienic for use by the baby.

Do not use bottle nipples as pacifiers: Bottle nipples may look like pacifiers, but they are not an alternative to pacifiers. A feeding bottle nipple is not designed to withstand prolonged insertion in the baby’s mouth and can rupture. Therefore, never use a bottle nipple as a pacifier. Leaving the baby with a formula bottle in the mouth for pacification is also not advisable since it can cause dental caries (5).

Do not tie pacifier around baby’s neck: A string around the neck can be a strangulation hazard to the baby.

In addition to these tips, remember to always clean the pacifier before use. Keeping the pacifier clean is essential to prevent transmission of germs.

How To Keep Pacifiers Clean?

Here is how to do it:

Wash the pacifier thoroughly with soap and water.

Pour fresh water into a cooking pot, deep enough to completely submerge the pacifier. Bring the water to boil on a stove.

Once the water starts boiling, turn the flame to medium. Use a tong to submerge the pacifier entirely into the water and boil it for five minutes. Make sure you immerse the pacifier completely, including the holder ring.

Remove the pacifier and let the excess water drip. Place the pacifier on a clean and sterile towel or tissue paper to let it dry before use.

You can also sterilize the pacifier in the microwave-safe sterilization box that comes with it. Place the pacifier in the box, fill it with water and put it in the microwave for two minutes, or until the water boils. For precise instructions, refer to the manufacturer’s instruction manual.

Sterilize the pacifier once every two days if your baby uses it often. Pediatric experts state that boiling is necessary to sterilize a pacifier used by infants below the age of six months (6). If the baby is over a year old, you can sterilize the pacifier using disinfectant soap and water or in a dishwasher. Boiling once in a week is still advisable for maintaining hygiene. Never use alcohol-based hand sanitizers to clean pacifiers.

Once you have identified the right type of pacifier for your baby, choose at least two to three options and let the baby pick one he likes. Babies and toddlers can be picky so it is always good to get about three pacifier options that you feel would work best. Once the baby loves a pacifier, he will immediately learn to self-soothe with it, giving you the much-needed relief!

Rohit Garoo

Rohit Garoo took writing as a profession right after finishing his MBA in Marketing. Earlier he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Botany & Zoology from the autonomous St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai. Rohit has also done a Stanford University certification course on breastfeeding. This botanist-zoologist turned writer excels at life sciences, and at MomJunction he writes everything about pediatrics and maternal care. In between writing and being overly curious, he spends time cooking, reading, and playing video games. LinkedIn profile – linkedin.com/in/rohit-garoo-263115aa

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